Last Updated on December 26, 2017 by CCAR Staff
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a national problem, which between 2010-14 caused nearly 5,000 fatal crashes in the state, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.
The Upland Police Department recently launched an educational program it hopes will curtail those numbers locally, which for Upland included two deaths in 2017.
The “Know Your Limit” program, which includes a display of a vehicle painted on the front to look like a police car and the back a taxi cab, gives people the chance to test their blood-alcohol level without the fear of being arrested.
“It’s your choice,” Upland police officer Mike Boyle said.
The idea for each program is bring the vehicle out to selected bars and restaurants where alcohol is served. Individuals leaving the facilities will have that opportunity to test their blood alcohol level, possibly saving them from driving drunk.
The Riverside Police Department was the first agency in Southern California to adopt the program in 2014.
Upland police Officer Mike Boyle talks about “Know Your Limit” DUI program. pic.twitter.com/xeEm1weazj
— Steve Ramirez (@SteveRRamirez) December 26, 2017
“We’re inviting education to the motoring public,” Boyle said. “Basically someone walks out of an establishment, we offer them the voluntary choice, taking a quick test. If they are positive, it’s a non-enforcement thing; let’s them know what their blood-alcohol level is.”
And sometimes it produces unexpected results.
“It’s surprising for most how high their (blood-alcohol level) is,” Riverside police Lt. Mark Rossi said in a news release. “We had one volunteer who guessed his alcohol level was at 0.4. He ended up with a .12.”
Both programs were possible due to grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
The idea is to help people become more aware of the DUI problem. Other agencies have taken advantage of the grant and, according to the OTS, given more than 1,000 breath tests in Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Upland Police Chief Douglas Millmore talks about “Know Your Limit” DUI program. pic.twitter.com/wsTCUNhqeD
— Steve Ramirez (@SteveRRamirez) December 26, 2017
“Members of our department saw it and where impressed by it,” Upland police Chief Douglas Millmore said. “It is a big problem. No community is immune to it. This is one way we can address it.”
Last year, statistics provided by the OTS said there were more than 1,000 deaths attributed to DUI-related crashes and more than 24,000 injuries.
Millmore said it’s a simple choice: You can choose to pay for a $20 cab ride, or a $10,000 DUI fine.
“It’s a bit of a shock when you see a half cab, half police car,” Boyle said. “If it works for one person out of the hundreds of people, we consider it a win.”
“What I mean by if it works,” Boyle added, “is if they decide to take a different alternative to (get) home rather than driving themselves home.”
The program was presented to some members of the Upland City Council on Tuesday with positive reviews.
Upland City Councilman SID Robinson talks about “Know Your Limit” DUI program pic.twitter.com/36jeLpKkDL
— Steve Ramirez (@SteveRRamirez) December 26, 2017
“I think anything that we can do as a city and our police force can do to limit drunk drivers — and it’s not just drinking but any impaired use of vehicles — is a benefit,” Councilman Sid Robinson said. “I think it’s one of those things we can measure over time the effectiveness of it.”
“It’s a win-win,” Robinson continued. “It’s at no cost to the city. I think people are more conscientious of not getting into their cars (when drunk). But when you’ve had a couple, you feel like there is no problem. Hopefully, this will take a few of those people off the road and give them a free ride home.”
